Willard i



W. I. TWOMBLY.

LIQUID FEEDING MEANS AND PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1920.

.1,43f,27`8 Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

UNITED ySTATES PATENT OFFICE..I

WILLARD I. TWOMBLY, OFNEWARK, NEW JERSEY, `ASSIGNOR. TO ACME ACCESSORIES CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. LIQiUID-FEEDING MEANS AND PUMP.'

original application ined october 2o,

To all whom# may concern.'

Be it known that L VILLARD I. TWOMBLY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of lYewJerseyghave invented certain new and useful Improvements in` Liquid-Feeding Means andy Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

YThisinventionl relates tov means for feeding liquid,l as-for instance-liquid fuel or gasoline, from a" source ofsupply to a reservoir and to the intake of an engine such `as the -carbureter of an internal combustion engine.

The device as shown herein, is one of Several illustrated` in my prior application, Serial hlo.v 197,589, filed OctoberA th 1917,

of which this case is a division.

yThe general purpose of the invention is toprovide improved liquid pumping means operable from the movements of the engines, which means are simple and cheapV in construction and efficient in operation.

`'Heretofore inapparatus of this character,

' it `has been the practice to connect a reseri voir to theintake'manifold ofvan engine and to utilizey .the suction ofthe .piston'of the engine to apply vacuum directly to the surface. Vof the fuel todraw, it from a supply :tank tothe reservoir, :from vwhich it was fed by gravity; also to connect'a pump Ychamber tothe ,cylinder ofthe engine, the pump being actuated bythe suction of the engine 'during the return yor fuel intake stroke of the piston.`

l. One object ,of this invention isto provide means connected` directly Ito. the cylinder of the engine` and operable by the yvarying pressures in the engine cylinder, throughout a wide range ,of i varying pressuresv and speeds of the engine, to drawl the fuel from a tank and deliverit to the engine.

.A further object of the invention is to provide liquid feeding means of this char- 7 acter including a pumping mechanism having avreciprocable piston, said, pumping mechanismbeing interposed between the yfuel tank and the engine, the piston ofv the pumping mechanism operating to separate the pump cylinder yinto a motive chamber and a pump chamber, the motive chamber being connected to the combustion chamber ofthe engine and the piston reciprocated 1917,'seiia1 No. 197,589. 25, 1920. serial No. 368,697.

Divided and this application ,filled March through the varying pressures in the combustion chamber, such lasduring the power.

the pump chamber and delivered from the outlet of the pump chamber.

.A further object of the invention is to providev means in whichl the. pumping mechanism normally operates to Ishut off communication between the engine and tank and between the pump and tank, and operable to open communication vbetween the tank and engine when the piston is reciprocated.

Another object of the invention is to provide liquid feeding means of this character in which the outlet of the pump chamber is connected and the liquid delivered to a reservoir which is connected to the fuel intake means of the engine, and to provide means whereby the liquid level is controlled 'i and controls the actuation of thepumping mechanism to draw and deliver` liquid from the tank. l i

The device shown herein has peculiar advantages asa means serving the above generally stated objects and purposes. y' y The high level reservoir has the pump cylinder located therein and preferably eX- tending therethrough. sel is cylindrical with the pump cylinder axially dis-posed therein.l Preferably, the pump cylinder isvertically arranged and preferably the intake for the liquid is at `Preferably, the vesr the lower end of the cylinder and reservoir while the conduit for application of pressure from the combustion chamber of feeding means.

i y i `below the carbureter.

Y. Figure2 is a sectional side elevation of an embodiment of, a pumping. mechanism combined with a reservoir for use in connection with my improved fuel or'gasoline In Figure lfof the drawings I have shown an embodiment of my invention applied asa fuel or gasolinefeed inv connection with va motor vehicle, the motive power of which is an internal combustion engine 9 to which vis connected a carbureter 1() by a manifold 11, and a. fuel or gasoline supply tank 12 located at the rear of the vehicle ata point below. the carbureter, `with my improved means (designated in a general way by P) to rdraw thefuel `from the tank andl deliver it tothe carbureter of the intake of theengine in position between'said tank and carbureten'the tank being connectedthereto by a pipe `13 and the carbureter by'a pipe 14; said means to draw fuel from the tank and deliver it to the carbureter is connected by. a pipe 15 to the vcombustion chamber of the engine, such as the opening for the priming cup for the. engine, as shown at 16.

v The means to draw and deliver the fuel from. the tank to the carbureter or' engine is operable -by the varying pressures "in the combustion chamber of the engine, such as during the power and compressionstrokes, or the suction and [exhaust strokes, of 'the engine piston, and in the Aform thereof shown in 4Figure f2,"includes a high level reservoir`29. y

The reservoir consists of a cylindrical sheet metal receptacle, in which the pumping mechanism isy axially located, said reservoir havingan outlet 34 to 'whichthepipe v 14 leading tothe lcarbureter isconnectcd, and open att-he top with the `upper end flaring outward as` shown at .35. The reservoir is closed by a y cover 36 having an annular flange 37 .f to engage y within thefflaring portion 35.V The cover has ,a "central opening through which the ycylinder 17 extends and the cover flange 37 is caused to forcibly engage the flaring end 35 of the `reservoir to prevent'leakagev by the splashing of the fuel in the reservoir by the screw closure lor cap21 on cylii'iderf17.

Thus the pump cylinder serves somewhat as a centeringv stud and as a clamping bolt to secure the cover'on the reservoir. y l

The pump ycomprises a cylinder 17 `in which .there is mounted a reciprocable piston 1 8, said piston separating ithe cylinder into a motive chamber 19 and aypump chamber 2O.` The mot-ive chamber has a port 23 inthe removable closure 21 of the cylinder 17 and to the threaded projection 220i this closure 21 is connected the pipe 15 con- A capacity of the pump.

yThe piston 18 has the annular voil groove material, said ring being clamped between the piston and a flanged clamping nut 41 threaded onto a projection 42 of the piston, the flange having a loose't inthe cylinder and providing a recess between said flange 39 andcarries a packing ring 40 `of suitable and the piston `for the engagement of the piston packing for a purpose'tovbe herein-I after described. The piston l8tis yieldingly `maintained toward the outermost end of the motive chamber by a spring 43, a spring e bumper 14C being interposed between the flange of the piston nutlll andthe closure end21 for the motive chamber Ato prevent the piston 'striking against the'en'dof said chamber and making a clicking'or knocking noise. y.

The pump .chamber 20 hassan inlet`q24, connected through' a coupling and the'pipe 13, with the tank 12, the inlet being normally c'losedby a gravity seated valvey 26 fopening into andclosing outward from the pump chamber 20. The; pump chamber has an` outlet consisting of a series of 'circumferentially disposed ports 27 extending diagonally through a flanged portion` ofthe v cylinder leading into a reservoir 29. lThe outlets of thev ports are located` in'ja beveled portion 30 forming a seat for avalve l31 to close the ports, said valve ybeing in theform of a sleeve slidably mount-ed .uponzthe cyl.-

inder 17 and having a laterally flaring'poi'-` tion tov correspond with the beveled portion 30. The "valve opens into a'nd'closesout-` ward from the reservoir andis normally maintained yieldinglyY closed when" the liquid level in the reservoiris below apredetermined levelby the weight `of a float '32 embracing the cylinder 17 and movable longitudinally thereof and `an. intermediate,`

spring 33 fixed, as by soldering, to thei-oa-t v and valve. A port 38 of small area may be f provided to permit of the lescape of air from and entrance of air to the reservoir. In the operation of the pumping mechanism during the compressionstrokes of the piston of the enginedue to the connection 15 of the motive chamber of the 'Cylinder 17 with the combustion chamber of the engine cylinder, `such pressure will be exerted on the end of the piston nut 41, a portion of such pressure due tothe loose fit of the nutA flange entering the space between the flange and piston proper expanding the packing 4() and movmg the piston against the action of the spring 43, the expansion of the packing ring also preventing the passage of such pressure to the pump chamber. This movement of the piston will unseat the 'i valve 31 to open communication between the Vpump chamber and the reservoir. Duringth'e suctionstrokes of the engine piston with the consequent reduction Aof the pressure inthe connection 15 and in the motive I chamber lthe spring 43 will move the piston toward the outer end of the motive chamber, the valve 3.1`having automatically seated by spring 33 suchmovementof the piston 18 will create a vacuum in the pump chamber unseating 'the yvalve 26 and drawing the fuel "fromfthe tank12 through the connection13 thereof with the pump chamber into the latter. This latter movement of the piston 18v may also be facilitated during the suction stroke of the piston of the engine by lthefcreation of a vacuum in the motive chamber. The pipe 14 leading to the carbureter is connected to the reservoir 29 and the fuel from the reservoir to the carbufreter is fed by gravity through said pipe. If used for feeding gasoline to the carbu reter on yan' automobile it would be eXtremely diicultto proportion the parts so that thefcontinu'ous operation vof the pumping -mechanism would not flood the reservoir 29 and to-control the fuel level therein the iioat 32 is providedf As the fuel level in the-reservoir rises the buoyancy of the float will cause it to rise and move upward. This motion may be used to control the pump in any desired way. As shown in Figure 2, the float being connected through the spring 33 with valve 31, will lift and unseat the valve 31 maintaining the valve open until the fuel level is lowered, the movement of the pistony 18 while the valve 31 is open alternately drawing the fuel from and dis-` charging it into the reservoir until such time as the fuel level permits the floaty to fagain assumeV a position with the valve 31 closed.

It will be noted that the piston 1S at all times shuts offcoinmunication between the combustion chamber of the engine cylinder and the tank, and that communication between thel intake of the engine and the tank is shut off from the reservoir by the valves 26 and 31 for the inlet and outlet of the pump chamber, andl that communication between the tank and intake of the engine is inder there will be a low pressure in the motive'chamber of the cylinder 17 and a short motion or stroke of the piston 18, and as the throttlefvalve for the engine intake is opened with the consequent increase of pressures inthe engine cylinder, there will be a corresponding increase of the pressures in the motive chamber of the cylinder 17 and alonger stroke imparted to the piston 18.

It will be evident, however, that a spring which is yielding enough to permit the abo-ve described operation of the piston under close-throttle, low-pressure conditions will function somewhat differently when the engine is operating at high speed. This is because at high speeds, there is more work to be done by the spring actuated stroke of the piston and there is much less time to do it in. Hence the return stroke may be cut short before the piston gets back to initial position.

Moreover, while the eXtreme constriction of the inlet passage, as shown in the drawings, serves to moderate on the pump piston, the violence of the engine explosions, it also tendsto average up the low pressures as well as to average down the high pressures, and this tendency becomes more pronounced with increasing speeds of the engine. Hence though the engine pressures continue alternating from pronounced vacuum to high pressure even at high speeds, the pressures on the pump piston become pulsating, that is, they are above atmosphere even during the vacuum strokes of the engine. his pulsating excess pressure at high speeds tends to force the pump piston toward the spring thereby compressing the spring until a` position is reached where the spring is under a continuous minimum compression'equal to the continuous minimum pressure in the motive chamber.

The piston continues to reciprocate in re sponse to the variations of pressure, and the length of the stroke may be approximately the same or may be less, but the range of the stroke is shifted enough to make the spring return strokes more powerful and therefore quicker acting.

M the spring 43 of great length and providing a longclearance or pumping space in tie cylinder, as shown in the drawings, affords a considerable range for the above described shift of position of the stroke of the piston and corresponding increase of spring stiffness. it is one good `method of rendering the device automatically self-accommodating for the wide range of alternating and pulsating pressures due to the constricted inlet during the widely varying speeds practically necessary in the operation of automobile and similar internal combustion engines. For a wide range of speeds the length of the stroke will be determined by the pulsating 'diiaferences of geo pressure during each cycle of explosion, eX- haust, suction and compression in the engine, independently of the amounts of said pressures, changes in the amounts being taken care of bythe automatic shift of the posi-` tionfof the stroke to the extent necessary/to get a counterbalancing back pressure of the spring. l i

The spring 114i' on the opposite end of the piston, is ofshorter length and shorter range of action than-spring 13. It functions only when conditions are such as 'to permit com- `of spring 4.4 initiates and assists the subsequent expansion stroke. `In this way the I shortspring 44; acts during times of alten nating suction and pressure on the piston, in a manner somewhatanalogous to the action of spring 44 during times of continuous pulsating pressure. l i i i While the float controlled inlet shown herein is one means for governing the pump.- ing of the liquid, it will be evident that the advantageous features of construction of the reservoir vand'arrangement of pump cylinder as well as the liquid intake and motive pressure inlet may be utilizedwvhere governing of the pump` is not desired, or where other methods of governing are employed, as for instance, those shown in my said prior application.y It is to the former features not specifically claimed in my prior application that the claims of this application are particularly directed.

It will be noted that inthe specific gov-p erning arrangement shown herein the float 32, spring 33 and outlet valve 31 are means whereby the pump is rendered first ineffective and then inoperative, by gradual lifting of the outlet valve out of range of the outlet `passages so the float rises to the uppermost position. Conversely as the liquid is drawn off and the level lowers, the valve seats upon the pump outlets and presses more and more heavily thereon until, in full normal operation, the entire weight of the float may rest upon the valve. the outlet will be ofmuch higher resistance to outflow of fiuid than the inlet is to inflow. The inlet is of relatively large cross section and has only a free, gravityseated ball as the checkvalve therefor. The gravity seated ball is preferred because it is a simple and very effective means of getting the quick, free, low-,resistance opening of the inlet Thus in normal operation which is very desirable at -all times and par.-

ticularly so, when thesupply pipe is empty and the gasoline must be lifted by rst pumping air. .'But; the ball `form and the absence ofsprlng vpressure which gives .the

quick, free, low-resistance opening, tend to make it slow closing. This is no great dis-` advantage when the vreservoir is full and efficiency of pumping when the reservoir is W or the engine opfy erating at very high speed, sothat efficient` pumping is necessary, slow? closing of. the

is unnecessary, but f inlet valve would permit objectionableslip i i or backflow of liquid tothe tank. In rthis situation, the back-pressure and high resistance to outflow of liquid due to thepressure on outlet valve 33, is of great importance. N ithsuchback-pressure on the outlet, the

high speed movement of the piston under the explosive pressure from the engine,.takes effect on lincompressible liquid andi instantly piles up a suiticient back pressureon the inlet valveI to force it tightdown on its seat at the very beginning of the expelling stroke of the piston. l y '1 i l I claim: y Y

l, A combinedreservoir and pump includ- `actuation by fluid pressure and a lower porev tion formed as a pump piston, the intake of said pump being through the bottom of said tubular member, the discharge through an intermediate portion and the inlet lfor the pressure medium operating'said piston being through the top lof said tubular mem-v ber.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comt 'prising a vessel, a closure for the open end of said vessel, a cylindrical tube rigidly securedto the vessel and projecting outside the vessel and closure at both ends, a. double l headed piston in said tube, a member screw threaded on the yexterior projecting portion of said tube to tension said parts in clamp-` ing relation with the tube serving las the tension memberof the clamp, apipe .connecting theupper end of said tube with a source of alternating iiuid pressure, a liquid right position, a closure for said vessel, a`

tubular membersecured in vertical position and having passages extending through the bottom and top otsaid vessel, a piston in' said tubular member dividingthe same into an upper motive power chamber and a lower pump chamber, the intake of said pump being through said Abottoni passage and the inlet for the pressure medium being through the `said topv passage.V

4. Acoinbined reservoir and pump including a vessel adapted to be secured in upright position, a closure for said vessel, a tubular member secuied in vertical position iny said vessel and having inlet passages from the exterior through its upper and lower end portions respectively, a combined motor and vpump element actuated by pressure applied through the upperpassage, the intake of said pump being through said bottom passage and the discharge being through an ii'iterme'diate' outlet into said vessel.

5. A combined reservoir and pump including vessel adapted to be secured in upright position, a closure for'said vessel, a tubular member secured in vertical position in said vessel and having inlet pa sages from the'exterior through its upper and lower end portions respectively, a combined motor and pump piston actuated by pressure applied through the upper inlet passage and a spring in the pump chamber; the intake of said pump being through said bottom passage and the discharge being through an intermediate outlet into said vessel, the lower end of said tubular member being rigidly secured through the bottom of said vessel and the upper end projecting through said closure, together with an exterior member screwed on said tubular member to clamp said closure on said vessel.

6. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, the combination with an internal combustion engine and a liquid fuel tank, of a reservoir interposed between the tank and engine connected to the intake of t-he latter; a cylinder centrally of said reservoir; a piston to reciprocate in said cylinder and separating the cylinder into a motive chamber having a port at all times open t0 the engine cylinder, and a pump chamber; a valve controlled inlet to the pump chamber leading from the tank; outlet ports in the lateral wall of the pump chamber to the reservoir; and a non-return valve adapted to check vreverse flow of liquid through said outlet ports when the inlet valve is open.

7. In liquid feeding means for internal combustion engines, the combination with an internal combustion engine and a liquid fuel tank, of a reservoir interposed between the tank and engine connect-ed to the intake of the latter; a cylinder centrally of said reservoir; a piston to reciprocate in said cylinder and separating the cylinder into a motive chamber having a port at all times open to the engine cylinder and a pump chamber; a spring in the pump chamber yieldingly pressing said piston toward said port; a valve controlled inlet to the pump chamber leading from the tank; outlet ports in the lateral wall of the pump chamber to the reservoir; and a iioiii'etui'n valve adapted to check reverse flow of liquid through said outlet ports during the lifting strokes ot said piston.

8. in liquid 'feeding means for internal combustion engines, the combination with an internal combustion engine and a liquid fuel tank, of a cylindrical reservoir interposed between the tank and engine connected to the, intake ot the latter; a

vcylinder arranged axially of lsaid reservoir; a piston to reciprocate in said cylinder and separating the cylinder into a motive chamber having a port at all times open to the engine cylinder and a pump chamber; a valve controlled inletto the pump chamber leading from the` tank; symmetrically spaced outlet ports in the lateral wall of the pump chamber to the reservoir, and a valve adapted to check reverse ilow of liquid through said outlet ports.

9. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, the combination with an internal combustion engine and a liquid fuel tank, of a cylindrical reservoir interposed between the tank and engine connected to the intake of the engine; a cylinder arranged axially of said reservoir; a piston to reciprocate in said cylinder and separating the cylinder into a motive chamber having a port at all times open to the engine cylinder and a pump chamber; a valve controlled inlet to the pump chamber leading from the tank; outlet ports in the lateral wall of the pump chamber tothe reservoir; and a valve adapted to check reverse flow of liquid through said outlet ports.

10. A combined reservoir and pump for an internal combustion engine, including a vessel adapted to be secured in upright position, a tubular member formed with a pump chamber secured in vertical position, in fixed relation to said vessel, a reciprocating pumping element in operative relation to the upper end oit said tubular member for applying alternate suction and pressure to said chamber; means for continuously reciprocating said pump element including a conduit leading to the upper portion oi said tubular element from the combustion space in a cylinder of said engine; a conduit from a source oi liquid supply, opening into the bottom portion of said pump chamber; a non-return valve for permitting flow of the liquid into said pump chamber and prevent ing reverse ilow; discharge outlet from said pump chamber into said vessel and means for opposing back flow of liquid into said outlet when said non-return valve is open.

11. A combined reservoir and pump for an internal combustion engine, including a sition, a tubular member formed with a to said chamber; means for reciprocating said pump element including a conduit leadingfto said reciprocating pump element from the combustion space in a cylinder of said engine and a conduit from a source of liquid supply, opening upward into the bottom of lsaid pumping chamber; a normally seated ball valve adapted to be liftedagainst i gravity 4by suction toward said pump chamber; ya discharge outlet from said pump chamber into said vessel andmeans for opposing back flow oliquidthrough said outlet when said ball valve is'lifted.

12.l A combined reservoirfand pump cluding a'vessel adapted to be secured in upright position, and a tubular member including. a pump barrel, secured in vertical position in said vessel, a piston in said pump barrel dividing it .intog anl upper motive chamber and a lower pump chamber, the intake of sai-d pump chamber;` being `through a gravity seated valve at the bottomy of said tubular member, the outlet being i ythrough an intermediate portion, and the inlet for motive fluid to the piston being through the top of said tubular member. n

Signed .at New York city in the county of New Yorkl and State of New York thislS i' i day of March, 1920.

WILLARD I. TWOMBLY. 

